Intentions, Actions, and Choices: No Grey Area

Good morning, church family!

Today, we’re diving into something that’s easy to overlook but so crucial to our walk with God: our intentions, actions, and choices. Ever heard someone say, "I had good intentions"? Maybe you’ve even said it yourself! But let me ask you this: Does it matter if your intentions are good if your actions are not aligned with God's will? Does God grade us on the curve of our hearts, or does He call us to live in alignment with His perfect law?

Spoiler alert: There’s no grey area with God—it’s black and white, no in-between. And here’s the kicker: Satan thrives in the grey area. Let's unpack that.

The Problem with Good Intentions Without Good Actions

We all know someone (or maybe we’ve been that someone) who meant well but ended up making a mess of things. You know the type—someone who says, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, I was just trying to help!” But even though their heart was in the right place, the result was still a disaster.

Let’s take a look at King Saul in the Old Testament. God told Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and everything they had—no exceptions (1 Samuel 15). Now, Saul’s intentions were good. He wanted to obey God—sort of. He spared the best of the livestock to offer as a sacrifice to God, thinking, "Surely God will be pleased with this!" But God was not impressed.

When Samuel confronted Saul, God told him, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Saul’s intentions didn’t matter if his actions were not in alignment with God’s command. Intentions don’t override obedience.

This is where we need to get real: God’s laws are not flexible. They don’t bend to your emotions, they don’t adjust for your convenience. His Word is not up for negotiation.

Black and White: No Grey Areas With God

Here’s where we have to ask the tough question: Are we truly living according to God’s Word, or are we adding our own shades of grey? God’s Word is clear—there’s no room for compromise when it comes to living His way.

It’s like this: imagine you have a boss at work who gives you clear instructions, and then the next day you say, “Well, I know he said to do it this way, but I thought it would be easier if I just did it my way.” You may have good intentions, but at the end of the day, your defiance has consequences. Maybe you get reprimanded, or maybe you don’t finish the job right. It doesn’t matter how good your intentions are if you don’t follow through with the right actions.

God’s commandments are like that clear instruction from the boss. There’s no "grey area" in God’s laws—it’s black and white. Right or wrong. Obedience or disobedience.

1 John 1:5 says:

“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”That means God is perfectly good, perfectly righteous, and He calls us to reflect His light. There’s no murky middle ground where you can just wade around and say, "I’m kind of following God, kind of doing my own thing."

It's either all in or all out.

Satan’s Favourite Colour: Grey

Let me make something clear: Satan loves the grey area. You know why? Because it gives you wiggle room. Wiggle room is where you start justifying things. You tell yourself, “It’s okay to be angry at that person, I mean, they really hurt me!” or “God will understand why I’m lying about this. It’s not a big deal, right?”

But here's the deal: Satan knows that if he can get you into the grey area, he’s got you. Why? Because he doesn’t care about your intentions. Satan doesn’t care if you feel bad about lying or cheating or doing something outside of God’s will. He only cares about one thing—leading you away from God’s truth and into sin. If he can confuse your moral compass, he can lead you wherever he wants.

Think about Adam and Eve in the Garden. Good intentions, bad result. Eve was just trying to get more knowledge, trying to become like God, right? But God gave clear instructions. The moment she stepped into the grey area of temptation and disobedience, the world fell apart. Satan’s strategy has never changed. He wants us to doubt God’s goodness and shift us into that confusing, “well, maybe I can do this part my way” space.

The Danger of Choosing Outside of God’s Will

Now, let’s get real—if we choose to live outside God’s will, we cannot complain when the consequences show up. It’s like getting on a roller coaster and complaining about the twists and turns. You knew what you were getting into!

Let’s look at King David, a man after God’s own heart, yet even he made some bad choices. Remember the story with Bathsheba? David saw Bathsheba, thought she was beautiful, and instead of choosing to walk away or even choosing to pray and ask God for wisdom, he chose to act on his desires. His actions, despite his good intentions, led to adultery, murder, and heartache. David had good intentions in the sense that he was king and had power, but his choice to act outside of God's boundaries had devastating consequences.

This is a big deal for us. We cannot say, “Well, I didn’t mean to sin” or “God knows my heart.” Yes, He does. And He also knows that we have free will to choose. We cannot claim to love God and live outside of His laws, pretending like our actions don’t matter.

God’s Laws Are Protection, Not Restrictions

God’s laws aren’t there to ruin our fun or cramp our style. They’re there to protect us, to keep us from harm. They’re like guardrails on a dangerous road. When you choose to go outside of those guardrails, you’re asking for trouble. And when you do, don’t be surprised when you go off track. You can’t blame the guardrails when you’ve driven off the road.

Remember, God’s laws are like the instructions on a high-tech gadget—if you don’t follow them, things are going to break. It’s that simple.

God Judges the Heart, but That Doesn't Justify Defiance

Now, some people might say, “Well, God judges the heart, right? So if my heart is in the right place, it doesn’t matter if I mess up a little or bend the rules.” That sounds nice, but that’s not what God means when He says He judges the heart.

Yes, it’s true that God cares about our hearts—our motivations, desires, and attitudes. In fact, 1 Samuel 16:7 tells us:

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

But here’s the thing: God isn’t excusing our defiance or disobedience just because we “meant well” or because we have a “good heart.” This is where it gets tricky for some people. We cannot justify defiance simply because we have good intentions. The Bible is clear: obedience is better than sacrifice.

Let’s take an example. Imagine a child who says, “I didn’t mean to disobey you, Mom, I just wanted to help!” But the “help” they offered turned the kitchen into a disaster. Sure, their heart was in the right place, but the action was still wrong. Their good intentions didn’t change the fact that the rules were broken.

God is like the loving parent who sees the heart, but He also sees the actions. Proverbs 21:2 says:

“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

God wants our hearts to be pure, but He also requires obedience. If we know God’s law and choose to go against it, we are not excused by our good intentions. Disobedience has consequences, even if we did it with the best of motives.

In fact, sin is sin, regardless of whether our heart was in the right place or not. Take the story of Cain and Abel. Cain's offering was rejected by God, not because his heart was bad (he may have had good intentions), but because he chose to bring the wrong offering. His defiance of God’s command led to a tragic consequence—he killed his brother in anger. The defiance of God’s law was not excused by his intentions.

In the same way, we can’t say, “God knows my heart, and He’ll forgive me because I didn’t mean to do wrong.” God sees the heart, yes, but He also sees our choices. If we choose to defy His Word, the consequences are real, regardless of our good intentions.

Romans 2:6 says:

“God will repay each person according to what they have done.”God’s judgment is not based on intentions alone, but on both our hearts and our actions. Our hearts matter to God, but obedience is key.

Conclusion: Choose the White Path

So, what’s the bottom line? Here’s the thing: God’s Word is clear. There’s no grey area. It’s black and white—His laws are for our good. Our intentions might be good, but our actions need to line up with God’s will. Satan is lurking in the grey areas, waiting to lead us off track, and if we step out from under the protective umbrella of the Holy Spirit, we can’t complain when the storm hits.

Make the choice today to follow God’s will completely. No grey area. Choose to live according to His Word, even when it’s hard. Your actions matter, and they will have consequences. So let’s choose to stay in the light of God’s truth, and leave the grey for the enemy.

Let’s pray.

Father, thank You for Your Word that gives us clarity and direction. Help us to walk in obedience to Your commands, knowing that they are for our good. Help us to reject the grey areas that Satan tries to lure us into, and give us the strength to make choices that honor You. We know that our actions matter, and we want to live in a way that pleases You. In Jesus' name, Amen.